Month: May 2016

DO YOU FIND IT HARD TO WAIT???


Spiritual Blog - Waiting

Psalm 62:1-8 – “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.   2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. 

3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.  Selah 

5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  7 In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. 

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”  NKJV

            Verse one of this Psalm should never be read superficially but meditated upon and studied prayerfully.  The literal Hebrew reads almost backward from the English translation.  It reads:  “Only for God in silence does my soul wait.”  The word translated SILENCE comes from the Hebrew verb that means:  “to whisper softly.” This carries the idea of whispering a secret to someone you love but not loud enough for others to hear.  In this case, it is only for God to hear or speak.  The word ONLY appears six (6) times in this Psalm which cries out to me that, for David, there is no one else but the LORD!

I ask you to consider the following in our discussion of WAITING.

  • We are to WAIT for God to direct our steps.

The Psalmist says, “My soul waits in silence for God only.”  Never run ahead.  WAIT!  A red light means “wait and watch carefully.”  You cannot run and wait at the same time.  The ability and strength to run come after and through waiting.  We all know the story of Ahimaz begging Joab to let him run although he did not have the green light.  He even outran the man with the message Cushi and when he reached the King he was turned aside.  God told Moses when standing at the Red Sea with the army of Egypt coming fast from behind, “Stand Still and See the Salvation of the LORD!”

In verse one, we find David’s declaration and in verse five we find his command, “My soul, wait in silence for God only.”  We would do well to note that David is talking to himself.  He is directing his will and instructing his inner man – – WAIT FOR GOD!  He will direct my steps.  This is not easy when we are impatient and anxious to run.  We dare not forget that Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice and know Me.”  It is imperative that we learn to hear and know the voice of our Great Shepherd.

  • We are to TRUST God to provide our needs.

“From Him is my salvation,” is the continuation of verse one.  Then, in verse two we read, “He only is my Rock…”  The directive is simple, we are to wait on Him, trusting Him to provide.  The only question is, “Are We Doing That?”  Many of us, who have been around church for any length of time have heard, “Wait for God” or “Trust God to supply your needs.”  Some seem to act as though they have outgrown that.  Some things are only learned through experience and time rather than teaching and books.  When we consider the record of God we quickly realize HE DOES NOT FAIL.  Therefore, we can TRUST Him confident that He is El-Shaddai.  He will, in due season, provide the green light, open door, and provision.

When we wait on God to direct our steps – HE DOES.  When we trust God to meet our needs – HE DOES.

God be with your guarding and guiding you as you proceed on the planned path of this day! 

 

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IMAGINATION – Good or Bad Biblically? – Part II


Spiritual Blog - Imagination

Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  NKJV

Now to address the question, “What Is God’s Attitude toward Our Imagination?”  I believe the Bible speaks to this in many ways.  We know from scripture that God wants to make us free of every thought that brings distress, anxiety, doubt or fear.  The Imagination is a powerful tool in helping us make tremendous strides in our advancement in God and His purpose for our lives.

A strong word of caution – – We MUST keep our Imagination under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and consistent with God’s written word.  Imagination’s purpose is not manipulation but faith.  As our text declares, God says the imaginations of man’s heart and they were evil. This is speaking of fallen man’s corrupted imagination which caused the world to be destroyed by a flood saving only Noah and his household.  When the flood ended, God was giving mankind a second chance but God cautioned Noah in Genesis 8:21, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”  Man, in his depraved state, was subject to the deception of the devil and the perversion of his ability to imagine and dream dreams.  If you recall the Tower of Babel incident in Genesis 11:6 where God said, “Now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do.”  In Deuteronomy 31:21 we read, “Many evils and troubles have befallen them… for I know their imagination.”

Thus, we clearly see God’s attitude toward the misuse of the imagination and that is emphasized in Proverbs 6:18, listing a heart that devises wicked imaginations as one of the seven abominations God hates.  Jeremiah 23:17 God speaks of the negativity of those who walk after the imagination of their own heart.  The Holy Spirit will always nudge our hearts to remember that we should never use our imagination to picture things God has forbidden.  The demonic suggests, “If it feels good or looks good go for it.”

In pursuit of our question about God’s attitude toward man’s imagination we come to another question, “Why does God hate an evil imagination?”  Our ability to imagine is connected with our original creation.  “Let us make man in our image…”  God created an image and as a result, the power of God is in us.

We have to recognize the power of the imagination in reviewing the scientific accomplishments of man in just the past fifty years.  Men see things and then invent them.  Our minds are battlegrounds and the imagination is a trophy to be won!  The imagination is one of the tools or vehicles God uses to enable us to picture what He is doing or wants to do.  Directed by the Holy Spirit it is valuable to the Kingdom.  Directed by lust or the flesh is puts us in direct conflict with the purpose and principles of God’s Kingdom.

Let me explain it this way.  The devil did not try to force Eve to disobey God.  He simply maneuvered her into thinking about it.  He suggested the benefits she should consider and she pictured them in her mind.  Eve thought about the proposed benefits and as she looked at the forbidden fruit she did so with a new interest and perception.  IT LOOKED GOOD.  Remember the fruit had not changed one iota but her thoughts had.

There are those that proclaim, and I have been guilty, that “we are only responsible for what we do with our thoughts and we cannot control what thoughts come to our minds.”  I want to declare that is false!  Now before you toss me out, let me go further.  We are taught in scripture to bring every thought into immediate captivity to Jesus.  We are responsible for our thoughts.  Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts… and see if there be any wicked way in me.”  1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man; I put away childish things.”   If we are to bring every thought “captive” to the obedience of Christ how can we not be responsible, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, for our thoughts?

 

 

That is spiritual progress and maturity.  We need to renounce the idea that Christians cannot control what they think.  We can and must cut off thoughts before they find a lodging place.  We may not be what we think we are but we are what we think.  Our Lord demonstrated His ability to know the thoughts of His hearers as evidenced in Matthew 9:4.  Jesus held them responsible for their thoughts not simply what they did with them.

Romans 8:6 – “For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Philippians 2:5 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Was Jesus’ mind perfectly pure?  Joshua was instructed to MEDITATE on God’s Law and that shaping of his thoughts would bring success.  God has given us authority over our thoughts and we do not have to allow the devil to attempt to sow seeds of doubt and deception.  You do not have to accept thoughts that are contrary to the word of the covenant of God.  The carnal mind is an enemy of God as Romans 8 declares and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to purge our minds so that the mind of Christ is in us and then we can use our Imagination for God, good and the kingdom.

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

 

 

 

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IMAGINATION – Good or Bad Biblically?


Spiritual Blog - Imagination

Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  NKJV

 

I readily concur with those who would caution about “imaginations” but is there a place for using our “imagination” biblically, rightly, and in a way that is encouraged by God and scripture?  There is a tremendous cloud of suspicion over any thought or suggestion of using our IMAGINATION because of the abuse and misuse by followers of the New Age philosophy and in much of postmodern thought.  This word falls into the same category as “mediation” because of some Eastern Religions.  Let me ask, are we as the Body of Christ to be robbed of something God has given that can be and is good when rightly used and applied because of the existence of perversions?

God has given each person the POWER TO IMAGINE.  Our minds are like computers and every thought that flows through it, and every image you create is indelibly inscribed on the cells of your brain.  You can sit now and recall events of years past and see them with clarity and even feel them.  Your mind plays them back like scenes on a motion picture screen.  Often, they are so vivid you almost believe them real.

What is IMAGINATION?  Webster’s Dictionary defines it as, “The act of creating mental images of what has never been actually experienced.”  Now, let me ask, “What do you think God thinks about our ability to imagine?”  I want to conduct a quick experiment as an illustration if you will indulge me.

“Imagine a beautiful lake with the sun shimmering on the water, trees and flowers lining the shore.  Close your eyes, can you see it?  Now picture a garden filled with flowers of every color of the rainbow?  Can you see it?  Now, think of a giant tree that reaches to the sky like a skyscraper.  Then picture your favorite meal and you can almost smell the aroma it is so vivid.  Well, it is for most people.

             You may never have painted a picture and have almost zero artistic talent.  You may never have planted a garden, grown any plants or build any type of structure, yet in your mind, you can create them with perfection.  That brings us to some questions.

  • Why can we IMAGINE things?
  • Where does the power or ability come from?
  • Is it right or wrong, good or evil?

           You and I were created in the Image of God and we are His special treasures. He created each of us with far more talent and ability than we have ever dreamed.  Most of us have not tapped into the depths of what is found in the reservoir of our lives but it is there waiting to be tapped into. If you let your mind wander for even a few minutes you realize just how powerful your Imagination is.  I suggest that God values our ability to Imagine more than we because He created us with that ability for a reason and purpose.

Jesus, in His earthly ministry and life, demonstrated the control that God intended man to have.  Jesus could see beyond the natural.  He saw the coin in the mouth of the fish that Peter caught and took the coin to pay their tribute. He saw the pots of water becoming wine and saw the few fish and loaves multiplying to feed the masses.  Jesus, according to John 5:19 never did anything until He first SAW the Father do it.  Only when our ability to SEE gets linked with God’s power to CREATE do we see miracles and they happen because that is what God originally intended to happen.

Back to the beginning, “What Is God’s Attitude toward Our Imagination?”   What a wonderful place to pause until next time.  God bless you and may He guard and guide you go you go through this day in Him.

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GENUINE IMITATION FAITH – – Part IV


Spiritual Blog - Fake

1 Timothy 1:3-7 – “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”  NKJV

 

The obvious question at this point is, “What is Genuine Unfeigned Faith?”   In the Greek, the word translated faith is (pistis) which has a primary meaning of “a firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing.”  That is interesting and powerful.  Let’s delve into this a bit more.

I am convinced that something ALWAYS happens when faith, genuine faith is released.  When genuine faith is released there we find salvation, healing, deliverance, cleansing and obedience as it reaches into that unseen world and brings the visible evidence into the seen world.  Faith, as I find it in the Bible, is active and never passive! 

Remember when Jesus exercised faith, the fig tree withered from its roots, bread and fish were multiplied to feed the multitudes, blind eyes were open and deaf ears unstopped.  When Jesus exercised faith, the lame walked again, the dead came back to life, demons released their captives, storms were calmed and even water was turned into wine.  Jesus rode into a crowd of shouting people on an unbroken or untrained donkey.  In Him, we find a picture of Genuine Unfeigned Faith.  How could you fake such actions and results?

          Hebrews 11:1 declares, “Now faith is…”  A consistent truth can be gleaned from this.  Either now faith is or it is not.  You can repeat all the right jargon, go through the right rituals, and follow the right formula but you will never duplicate or replace Genuine Faith.  Faith alone accomplishes Divine results.  Mental assent, emotional stirrings, and zeal are sometimes substituted for Faith but they are not and will never be Faith.  The real test comes when these die away.

Let me urge you in realizing that “Faked Faith” is unnecessary.  God has already provided faith.  Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Let me do it this way, “So then faith comes by hearing (reception and a positive response), and hearing by the word (Rhema) of God.”  The emphasis is on the spoken.  Consider it this way…

  • Faith comes from God’s Speaking.
  • God Himself is the only true source of this Faith.

             God has never been nor will He ever be short on Faith!  The problem is that sometimes we are short or deficient in HEARING!  When we consider the components of Faith and realize that we cannot manufacture faith we move toward a tremendous Freedom in the Faith Realm.  Hear me carefully and clearly, ONLY GOD can produce this faith!  This Faith comes as God speaks!  Therefore, man’s efforts to create, produce and manufacture Faith only results in frustration.  It is fruitless and we become targets for the delusion and temptation of Feigned Faith.  God’s desire for us is GENUINE UNFEIGNED FAITH!

            1 John 5:14-15 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  You have to hear that for it is powerfully liberating and encouraging.

  • Faith comes from God to man, not the reverse.
  • Faith comes as a result of Hearing God’s words.
  • Faith is demonstrated through acting upon God’s words.
  • Faith’s origin is Heaven,not earth.
  • Faith operates in the spirit, not the intellect or emotions.

             Let me state it this way.  When God speaks Faith is transmitted.  When a man hears Faith is received and when we act upon what we heard God say, Faith is released.  The key is that we HEAR HIM and TRUST HIM.  Yes, we know the promises but let God speak them to your spirit personally and they will live in His power and faith.  No wonder our Lord declared, “the works that I do shall you do and greater works than these…”  No wonder He said, “Ask and you shall receive…”  No wonder He said, “whoever says to this mountain be removed will see it come to pass.”

God speaks and faith is imparted.  A man hears and faith is received.  Man acts and faith is released.  God answers and the cycle of faith is complete.  It comes from God and returns to God and we are the flow through vessels.

God bless you as you walk in Faith, trusting Him completely at all times and in all things receiving His faith through His word and seeing Him fulfill His promises in your life and world.

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GENUINE IMITATION FAITH – – Part III


Spiritual Blog - Faith

1 Timothy 1:3-7 – “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”  NKJV

 

I am fully persuaded that Paul’s words in Romans 5:1-2 are deeply needed at this point in our consideration of Genuine Faith vs. Imitation Faith.  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  FAKING FAITH, very simply is utter foolishness and incredibly dangerous.  It can give false hope in a time when there is no time to “fake it ’til you make it.”

Once we have received the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives and He begins to direct our steps one thing He does is to work to produce “Genuine Living Faith” in our hearts that is manifested in our lives.  None of us should dare to attempt to function without it or try to bluff our way through in dealing with Jehovah-God.  That is exactly what the nation of Israel attempted in their history and it was costly.

What nation on earth can boast of more direct divine intervention and involvement than Israel?  They were delivered from bondage and established as a nation in one day by the hand of God.  God defended the nation, defined His Laws in them and their laws, demonstrated His power repeatedly in their progress, and devoted Himself to supply their needs physically and spiritually.  God designed a tabernacle where they could meet with Him, gave priests to assist them in their worship and even declare they were HIS PEOPLE.  They were totally dependent upon Him for everything.  They lacked nothing from the day they left Egypt’s bondage until they came into Canaan, nothing except “Genuine Unfeigned Faith.”

Deuteronomy 32:20 – “I will hide my face from the, I will see what their end will be, for they are a very perverse generation, children in whom is no faith.”

What an indictment!  When we consider the evidence that should have inspired and solidified their faith it is amazing.  How could they not be inspired by the miraculous deliverance, the miracle at the Red Sea, the sweetening of Marah’s waters, the daily manna, and the smitten rock where water gushed forth and they even heard the voice of God?  All should be incredibly faith producing and building.  They had evidence after evidence of God’s existence, person, power, and character and yet…

  • Ten times or more they were found murmuring in doubt.
  • They sought to go back to slavery in Egypt at the first sign of difficulty.
  • Built a Golden Calf to worship and pray to in violation to God’s commandment.
  • Took Egyptian idols with them as they journeyed. 

They “faked it” but refused to admit they were FAKING IT.  The tabernacle services never stopped.  The daily sacrifices continued uninterrupted and the Feast Days were kept faithfully.  ALL IN PRETENSE…  They continued to perform as if they had faith but were hypocritically pretending.  They were FAKING IT.  In the text we see that Paul tells Timothy that LOVE must be out of a pure heart and FAITH must be genuine and not faked!  He even identifies three successive generations who possessed Genuine Unfaked Faith.  The word “unfeigned” means “unqualified, unhypocritical, and unalloyed.”  It is true and pure.  The faith which pleases God and moves His heart on our behalf is “Genuine Unfaked Faith.”  Faith that is undisguised and without hypocrisy.  Counterfeit faith is not and will never be accepted in Heaven and Genuine Faith is never refused.

Now before we move to additional thoughts on this subject we pause due to time and space constraints.  May the Lord be with you guarding and guiding you as you go through this day in Him!  Abundant Blessing is my prayer and desire for each of you!

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GENUINE IMITATION FAITH – – Part II


Spiritual Blog - Faith

1 Timothy 1:3-7 – “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”  NKJV

 

Back to the matter of FAITH or GENUINE FAITH vs IMITATION FAITH.  I have made some observations in life that are revealing.  I have observed that people are prone to “fake it” in life and that carries over into the realm of faith.  We practice “faking it” more than we’d like to admit.  I do not ascribe to “fake it ’til you make it” but rather, “trust and you do not have to fake it.”  Let me give you a few examples of our faking it or encouraging faking it:

  • I was in a school play in Junior High and the teacher directing the play told us “Relax, if you forget your lines, just fake it.” In some ways, that is what adlibbing is.  Pretending with the intent to deceive.
  • At Christmas, birthdays or other occasions you receive gifts you did not want, need or appreciate and you “Pretend Joy, Surprise, Excitement, etc.” You are faking it!  Your motivation is to save anyone from embarrassment so you fake it.
  • When unexpected guests arrive for a visit, guests you did not want to come you “Pretend to be happy to see them.” You fake it.
  • I can remember in college, one particular history professor telling us, “Don’t try to snow me. If you do not know the material I will know it and you will fail if you try to snow me.”  The first exam was an essay test and although I had studied, did not know the answer to the question so what did I do, I SNOWED HIM and got an “A”.  I faked it.
  • How about as a child not wanting to go to school or an adult not wanting to go to work? You faked illness.  I tried that once as a child and my grandmother broke out the Castor Oil.  Faking it had a price!
  • In sports, especially basketball, many become adept in “flopping” or “faking it’. A player bumps into them and they sprawl on the floor appearing half dead.  They fake it.
  • I can remember in High School and observe in watching sports that some players, after blowing an assignment, fake injury. I saw some that could not remember what was injured and would limp on the wrong leg.  They faked it.

We do that in relationships, business, and even in church.  We pretend and over time our pretense becomes a reality to us and we lose sight of the genuine and accept the imitation. In the realm of faith, faking it is not acceptable.  It is particularly tragic when people attempt to “fake it” with God.  If we lack a particular grace and attempt to “fake it” will produce nothing beneficial but will cause hardship and heartache in our lives.

I have found among many Christians an unwillingness to admit the absence or lack of faith.  I have long wondered why we would “pretend” or “fake it” when Genuine Faith is required.  Our pride should never come between us and the fruit of faith and another reason we are instructed to enlist the help of others to “agree” and “pray.”

A foundational truth in our relationship with God is FAITH.  If it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him without faith, what could be more important than discovering Genuine Faith and dismissing the Imitation?  We are told in Ephesians 2:8 that we are “saved through faith.”  In Acts 26:18 we discover we are “sanctified through faith.”  In Galatians 2:6 we read that we are “justified by faith.”  In 1 Peter 1:5 we are told we are “kept through faith.”  In Hebrews 11:33 we realize that “by faith we subdue kingdoms and obtain promises.”  And in verse 39 we “obtain a good report through faith.”    All the blessings and promises of God are entered into through the doorway of faith!

          Again, time and space require me to hold further thoughts until the next devotional. So, until then may God grant you His grace and guidance and lead you forth into the fullness and fruit of Faith.

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GENUINE IMITATION FAITH…


Spiritual Blog - Faith

1 Timothy 1:3-7 – “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia — remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.”  NKJV

 

Have you ever struggled with the matter or exercise of FAITH?  Of course, you have!  We know, without question, that God wants us to have and exercise FAITH.  He wants our exercise of faith to be simple and uncomplicated.  I contend that it is NEVER God who complicates the matter of FAITH.  “It’s Complicated” will not be an acceptable justification to Him.

FAITH is a commodity or subject more talked about in many Christian circles than virtually anything else.  There are probably as many theories about faith, it operation, and exercise as there are people.  Sadly, too often, what we hear and see is confusion and what I would call “Genuine Imitation Faith.”  The world, as we know it, is full of imitation and the best way to identify an imitation or counterfeit is to know the genuine.

My disclaimer – – I do not have all the answers and sometimes wonder if I have any, but a number of years ago the LORD began to deal with me regarding faith.  I was arrested in prayer and reading and heard in my inner being the Holy Spirit say, “Seek Genuine Unfeigned Faith.”  That led me to many hours of prayer, study, meditation and consideration of FAITH and my source and resource have been God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, my teacher, and guide.  Have I uncovered all the answers?  No, I continue to ‘see in part’ and ‘know in part’ but I am seeking and finding answers more and more all the time.  As I considered the matter of FAITH a number of questions were written down for study, examination and the hope of finding answers.

  • What is faith?
  • How does faith operate?
  • Who has or can have faith?
  • Can faith be produced by man?
  • Can faith be developed and grow?
  • Does faith ALWAYS get the desired results?
  • Why do some seem to move more freely and easily in the realm of faith than others?

           That is not an exhaustive list but provided a basis for years of study and opened doors I had never seen before.  I found some of the answers wonderfully rewarding and some incredibly disturbing as they challenged my previous theological and doctrinal beliefs.  So, these questions and more have weighed heavily on my heart for years and one of the discoveries was:  “Truth must get into your spirit, not just your intellect.”  God is a Spirit and operates in the Spirit realm, speaking to our spirits, TRUTH!  Be assured that the devil will stop at nothing to hinder, destroy or delude our faith.  God, on the other hand, has made provision for our understanding, embracing, and exercising faith!

Spiritual Blog - Faith 1

The devil wants to counterfeit and God desires the genuine!  I found an immediate conclusion concerning faith in Scripture.  Hebrews 11:6, “Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.”  Therefore, it becomes obvious that the devil would do all he could to prevent us from receiving and walking FAITH.  He is a master deceiver and would like nothing more than to deceive us into accepting the IMITATION rather than pressing into the GENUINE.  That, in a nutshell, identifies the importance of faith in our lives.

Time will not permit me to fully elaborate on my discoveries so I will pause here and pick this up in the next devotional.  Until then, may God open new doors of understanding for you so that His Faith is shed abroad in your hearts and minds in a powerful way!  God bless you richly as you go through this day!

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DO YOU FIND IT HARD TO WAIT???


Spiritual Blog - Waiting

Psalm 62:1-8 – “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. 

3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah 

5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  7 In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. 

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”  NKJV

 

One of the most quoted passages among the Christians I know is Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  NKJV.  Quoting it is one thing, practicing it quite another.  I have become convinced by study, observation and personal experience that most of us are very bad at WAITING.  I am reminded of a sign I saw once, “Lord, give me patience… And I want it right now!!!”  It is very difficult to wait in a microwave word with lightning fast computers, smartphones, fast food, etc.  We live in a society where photographs are now largely digital providing instant feedback, freeways have express lanes, and virtually everywhere you go there is a drive-through for quick service.  We want what we want yesterday if not sooner!  I heard the story of a man who would demand his wife buy seedless grapes. She argued that the grapes with seeds had more flavor but he was too impatient to remove the seeds.  We want things easy, quick and convenient.   I had a person tell me once, “I have patience, it’s the waiting that I have a problem with.”

That hurts!  I confess I would rather do almost anything than wait.  I do not wait well and standing in line is one of my major torments.  In fact, many would rather do it wrong than wait. We hate waiting and that is problematic in developing a relationship with God that produces faith and spiritual victory.  That being said, I have found that WAITING is the rule rather than the exception in life.  The exception is the OPEN DOOR.  Just because a door is closed does not mean that we are out of the will of God or that door is not God’s will, it sometimes means it is not God’s time.  Waiting may be exactly what God wants you to do at that moment.

I know people who are so impatient and driven to be in control they cannot remain in one lane while driving and will change lanes twenty times in the span of a few miles simply trying to get ahead of one car.  They make no real progress but impatience grips them.  In life, we probably face more red (stop lights) and yellow (caution lights) than we do green (go lights).  If you have been in the military you are familiar with the saying, “hurry up and wait.”  In life, we wait, wait, and wait.  What we need to learn is that WAITING ON GOD is supposed to be resting rather than worrying or fretting.  Some people have gotten good at faking waiting!  They are torn up inside but put on that plastic front that says they are at peace when anything but peace is in their heart or mind.

Genuine patience is something that is acquired through learning to fully and completely trust God.  Genuine patience enables us to enjoy TRUE PEACE at all times and in all things. That makes the Psalm of our text so powerful.  It offers us helpful guidance for VICTORIOUS WAITING in and on the Lord!  The truth is, we do not need lengthy teaching on the Art of Waiting, we need long practice times!  Most of us know about waiting, what we need to do is WAIT!

I will tap the brakes here and pause until the next devotional and hopefully offer some helpful insight into both the benefit and practice of waiting.  God bless you and keep you as you embark on today’s journey!

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MY FAITH, THE BIBLE, and ABORTION…


Spiritual Blog - Bible

Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”  NKJV

 

Now that I have possibly offended some who will challenge my statement and find any connection of abortion to murder unacceptable, I ask that you give me the opportunity to explain my conviction in this area.  I readily acknowledge that the Bible does not specifically discuss abortion.  I recognize that some argue that since it is not specifically mentioned there is no prohibition scripturally but I would suggest that we must also consider the Bible specific and explicit commandments regarding the “killing of innocent people.”  Of course, the argument would immediately come back that the “baby in the womb” or “fetus” as they would prefer, is not a “human being” but simply a blob of tissue like a tumor and has no standing in the human family UNTIL it is fully birthed.  Tragically, we are aware that even then, some find it acceptable to snuff out the life of that baby born through a botched abortion.

I have sought to examine the Bible’s definition of a “person” and “life”.  In the historic research, I have found that a number of ancient societies opposed abortion and when I consider the Hebrews as a people they had a very powerful biblical foundation for opposition.  We know, from Genesis 1:27 that we (human beings) are created in the image and likeness of God.  I find no place in scripture where the determination of a “person” is dependent upon age, stage of development, mental, physical or even social skills.  It is, as I understand the Bible, conferred or endowed by God at the moment of creation.  It is my conviction that that moment of creation can be nothing other than conception for that is when that life begins which becomes that baby born into society.

We find a Hebrew word in Exodus 21,‘yeled’ which refers to the unborn but includes young children and even refers to teens and young adults, at times.  The Hebrews did not have a separate word for unborn children. We do, and largely the word fetus was and is used to justify our consideration of an unborn child as something other than a ‘human being’.   I cannot do that!  I view the unborn child like I do pregnancy, you cannot be almost pregnant or a little pregnant you either are or you are not and that unborn creation in the womb is either a child, a human being or it is not.  Thus, we see the divide in the interpretation of life, but what is God’s definition of life?  That is or should be the determining factor in determining our attitude toward abortion.

Job, in Job 10, described the way God created him BEFORE he was born.  That something in my mother’s womb was not a blob of tissue that might one day become Roy Beaird, it was the child that would be named Roy Beaird.  God spoke to Isaiah in Isaiah 44:2 saying, “This is what the Lord says – He who made you, who formed you in the womb.”  That cannot be construed to mean that Isaiah was not a human being created by God until he was fully birthed.  He was a human being, a created being in the womb.  David declared in his prayer and praise before God in Psalm 139:13-15 that God formed his inward parts while in his mother’s womb and proclaimed that he, David, was fearfully and wonderfully made.  In verse 16, David proclaims, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  How can I not believe that that life in the womb is a created being, a human being, and a living creature?  I believe!

When we consider the twins in Rebekah’s womb the Bible refers to them saying, “The babies struggled (jostled) each other within her.”  (Genesis 25:22).  God even said in verse 23, “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.”  How can I not conclude that that being in the womb is a Living Human Being?  Also, we dare not forget the words of Gabriel to Mary concerning Jesus, telling her she would be “with child”, not with something that might someday be a child but she was WITH CHILD!

The command, “You shall not murder” was sufficient for every Hebrew understood that the life in the womb was a person, an innocent person and to abort that baby could be murder in God’s eyes.  Psalm 127:3-5 informs us that, “…Children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward…”  Therefore, as I would oppose the murder of any innocent human being I oppose abortion for that defenseless life in the mother’s womb is God’s creation the same as you and I and that life is precious in the sight of God and must be protected.

You may disagree but I urge you to prayerfully consider God’s attitude toward life before you toss aside my plea to protect the babies, born or unborn.  God bless you is my desire and prayer!

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POLITICS AND RELIGION…


Spiritual Blog - Faith and Politics

1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Avoid every kind of evil.”   NIV

 

Through the years, I have had well-meaning and genuinely concerned believers including preachers tell me, “Roy, you need to stay out of politics after all ‘Separation of Church and State.’   Remember politics is a dirty business and we are to avoid evil.”  I found some misunderstandings as well as truth in what they stated.  Let me explain from my understanding of the Bible and Life.

Jesus was criticized for associating with politicians and non-believers, even to the point they questioned his morals and called him a drunk and glutton.  I am convinced that He was never drunk and physically fit so neither charge could be appropriately made to stick.  Jesus, in many ways, was political.  Before you turn me off let me explain.

  • He was involved in the Real World.

He came to earth to be involved in the oppressed and politically corrupt world and was fiercely brave in His willingness to address the corruption, challenge the political correctness, and identify the sin of the world He had entered.  He did not hide behind the four walls of a church building, nor restrict His associations to those who believed and desired righteousness.  He was out and about in the real world dealing with real people with real problems.  He was truly one who KEPT IT REAL.

  • He did not hold his tongue regarding the cultural issues of His day.

He never held a political office but spoke with prophetic authority to the social and political issues of His day.  He was so bold and exposed corruption to the degree He was considered a major threat to the “status quo” and they sought to eliminate Him.  He addressed fair wages, unjust trade, oppression of the widows and even economic injustices.   Remember His actions in the temple with the “moneylenders?”

  • He had a political agenda.

Before you cry foul, let me explain that His political agenda was not of this world but He addressed real needs of real people and that included exposing the corruption of those in power.

We have been called to be “lights shining in the darkness” and we cannot do that hiding behind the confines of the church walls or limiting ourselves to associations with fellow believers where there are no threats.  If we are going to be “watchmen on the walls” and sound the alarm we have to be out where the danger is.  Yes, our objective is to “win souls to Christ” but once won still have to exist or live in this present world.

If the government of man “seeks righteousness” we can bless it.  If the government commits a wrong act we must “rebuke” it like Nathan the prophet did with David (2 Samuel 12:1-4).  If the government is “idolatrous and wicked” like that of Ahab and Jezebel we are obliged to respond like Elisha (2 Kings 9:1-37).  If the government is “stubborn and cruel” we are charged to not only sound the alarm but seek to liberate the captives as did Moses.  (Exodus 1-5).  If the government could be identified as a “good pagan government” like Nebuchadnezzar then like Daniel we can participate and through our faithfulness and righteousness along with sound counsel win the King to God.  If the government is “efficient but unrighteous” like the Roman Empire we respect it but separate ourselves from its wicked ways.  If the government is “corrupt” we are obliged to expose it even when that places our own safety in peril.

The idea of “Separation of Church and State” has come to mean that the church cannot be involved in government more than it means the government cannot mandate its edicts to the church.  Both are wrong!  The Church is separate from the State but that does not mean God is separate from either.  The founding fathers sought the influence of the Bible and the guidance of religious leaders in their deliberations as they sought to form the Republic.  As believers, we should be bold enough to speak truth, explain how programs are beneficial or detrimental both biblically, morally, factually, socially, and economically.  If we are silent, they deem that as consent or weakness and seek further erosions in our rights and liberties.  If we are to “warn the wicked” we must sometimes stand on the rooftop and shout the message.  In so doing we may save some from the sure destruction and win them to Christ.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

 

 

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